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Hopes for Wifi Cities Fizzling Fast

Earthlink, other providers pull out amid rising costs

By Rob Quinn, Newser Staff

Posted Mar 22, 2008 12:48 PM CDT

(Newser) – Hopes for wireless cities are flickering out one by one as Internet providers run up against mounting logistics and small profits, the New York Times reports. Ambitious plans to provide free or cheap high-speed service to poor residents of cities such as Philadelphia, Houston, and San Francisco have ground to a halt as the providers, most notably Earthlink, pull out of the projects.

"The entire for-profit model is the reason for the collapse," a technology analyst said. Among the problems: the realization that far more routers were necessary than originally thought, a significant factor in cost. Cities are scrambling to find new business plans to lure providers, and one in Minneapolis is drawing attention: The city will ensure a minimum number of subscribers by signing up municipal workers.

Internet users try out the wireless Internet in downtown Manhattan. (Getty Images)

Michael Weinberg, of Personal Telco, checks a Personal Telco node radio array on a rooftop in Portland, Ore., Monday, May 14, 2007. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)

A WiFi transmitter affixed to a street sign is shown, Friday, June 1, 2007, in Portland, Oregon. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)

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Hopes for Wifi Cities Fizzling Fast

Earthlink, other providers pull out amid rising costs

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Fight for market share finds willing fodder in snow-delayed fliers

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Hopes for Wifi Cities Fizzling Fast

Earthlink, other providers pull out amid rising costs

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OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

San Francisco • Philadelphia • EarthLink • WiFi • municipal wireless • telecommunications • Meraki • Internet access

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

LA Has the Most Sex ... but Not the Best

Actresses are also probably faking it

Calif. Cafes Unplugging WiFi

Coffee shops shouldn't feel like cubicle farms, say owners

NYC Subway to Get Wireless, Cell Service

Australian company revives 3-year-old plan

McDonald's Will Offer Free Wi-Fi

Chain will drop $2.95 charge

Free Holiday Airport WiFi From Google, Microsoft

Fight for market share finds willing fodder in snow-delayed fliers

About Us

Site

Newser By Users

Community

Site Maps

Tools

More News

What is Newser?